Thursday, June 29, 2006

Teenager in Court

Kent Online reports that a Thanet teenager is one of the two men and a teenage girl who denied murdering Kent father Scott Upton when they appeared at Maidstone Crown Court.

Neil Smitheman, 25, Kieran Morris, 25, and the 17-year-old girl are alleged to have killed the 34-year-old labourer on October 13 last year.

The teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, also denied perverting the course of justice by assisting offenders in the disposal or concealment of evidence in order that they avoid capture for murder.

Ian Haben, 44, pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice by driving offenders to a destination in order that they avoid capture for murder.

Mr Upton, from Gillingham, died from multiple stab wounds. His body was discovered at the back of the White Horse pub on the corner of Station Road and Rainham High Street.

Smitheman, of Station Road, Rainham, and Morris, of Speedwell Close, Gillingham, were remanded in custody.

Haben, of Cavell Way, Sittingbourne, and the teenager, from Gillingham but currently living in Thanet, are on conditional bail.

The trial, expected to last three to four weeks, will start on July 17.